Safety belt buckle

ABSTRACT

A safety belt buckle so constructed that the minimum number of components are employed for convenience and simplicity of assembling; a movable portion is enclosed by a cover plate and a baseplate so as to be protected from an unexpected impact of any other object, in order to preclude an unexpected disengagement of the tongue from a latched position; and disengagement of the tongue is precisely effected only by pressing on it by means of a finger inserted through an aperture on the cover plate, but is not unexpectedly effected as a result of the force of inertia exerted thereon on collision.

United States Patent Inoue et al.

[ Feb. 8, 1972 [54] SAFETY BELT BUCKLE [73] Assignees: Toyota JidoshaKogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota-shi; Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika DenkiSeisakusho, Nishikasugai-gun, Japan [22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1969 [21]Appl.No.: 802,535

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,496,615 2/1970 Krengel..24/230.1UX

Primary ExaminerBemard A. Gelak Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn[57] ABSTRACT A safety belt buckle so constructed that the minimumnumber of components are employed for convenience and simplicity ofassembling; a movable portion is enclosed by a cover plate and abaseplate so as to be protected from an unexpected impact of any otherobject, in order to preclude an unexpected disengagement of the tonguefrom a latched position; and disengagement of the tongue is preciselyeffected only by pressing on it by means of a finger inserted through anaperture on the cover plate, but is not unexpectedly effected as aresult of the force of inertia exerted thereon on collision.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 'PATENTEI] FEB 8 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2PATENTEDFEB we 3.639.951

.IHEEI 2 HF 2 l N V EN TORS SAFETY BELT BUCKLE The present inventionrelates to a safety belt buckle. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a safety belt buckle characterized by comprising acover plate secured to the baseplate; a latch plate having one endengaged with one end of the baseplate within said cover plate andpivotally supported so that the latch plate can move swingeably. At theother end, an operative portion is bent or folded to extend under aninner or under surface of the cover plate, said operative end portion ofthe latch plate being in contact with the undersurface of the coverplate to prevent the latch plate from being pressed upwardly by theforce applied by the belowmentioned spring. A spring is secured to thelatch plate and presses said latch plate towards the cover plate. Anaperture is provided at one part of the cover plate corresponding to theoperative end portion of the latch plate.

The structure of the conventional safety belt buckle is such that thelatch element for engagement of the tongue is released by rotating aswingeable cover plate in an unlatching direction by means of a leverpivotally secured to the rear portion of the baseplate. The conventionalsafety belt buckle has defects, namely, that the structure iscomplicated and assembling is troublesome, because numerous componentsare used. It has another functional defect that an unexpecteddisengagement of the tongue from the latched position has been oftenencountered, since the force of inertia, on collision, is exertedthereupon in a direction causing unlatching of the tongue.

In view of the defects of the conventional safety belt buckle, aprincipal object of the present invention is to provide a safety beltbuckle so constructed that the minimum number of elements are employedfor convenience and simplicity of assembling; a movable portion isenclosed by a cover plate and a baseplate so as to be protected from anunexpected impact of any other object, in order to preclude anunexpected disengagement of, the tongue from the latched position; anddisengagement of the tongue is precisely effected only by pressingthereon by means of a finger inserted through an aperture on the coverplate, but is not unexpectedly effected by the force of inertia.

The accompanying drawings show a preferred embodiment of a safety beltbuckle of the present invention, wherein,

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view;

FIG. 2 is a plan view;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, with parts cut away; and,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3.

The following description will be made with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Numeral l is a baseplate, which consists of a pair of up standing andinwardly folded flange portions 2, 2 each having at one end thereof aslightly rising end surface 6 with a notch or slit and having a cutoutportion 7, at the opposite end thereof, for engagement with a coverplate. A web portion has a reentrant edge portion 3 at the rear or rightend in FIG. I, an aperture extending over substantially the entire widththereof near the opposite front or left end part thereof, and aprojection 4 formed integrally therewith, for supporting a free end of atongue 26. The projection 4 is centrally located and extendsperpendicular to the web.

Numeral 8 is a latch plate, which has one end fitted to said reentrantedge portion 3 so as to pivotally support the latch plate whereby theopposite end portion of said latch plate can swing. A guide aperture 9is provided at a position corresponding to the supporting projection 4,for receiving said projection therein, and said aperture having at oneend thereof an upwardly raised latch portion 10. An upstanding portion11 extends substantially perpendicularly at a position spaced leftwardlyor frontwards from the latch portion and I then is bent perpendicularlyto extend frontwardly to form an operative portion 12 with a planesurface. The operative portion 12, at an upper surface thereof, isnormally maintained in contact with the undersurface of a cover plate14.

The cover plate 14 has an upright front or left end portion 15 providedwith slits 16, 16 at an upper part thereof,and is attached to thebaseplate l with the slits l6, l6 interfitting with the cutout portions7, 7, respectively. The cover plate has at its right end edges 17 whichare hooked over each of rising end portions 6, 6. It is to be noted, asbest seen in FIG. 4, that a gap 18 is formed between the baseplate 1 andthe cover plate 14, so as to permit insertion of the end of tongue 26.

Numeral 19 is a spring, which has a reentrant edge 20 at one end and aforked portion 21 with a space for permitting passage of the supportingprojection 4, at the opposite end. Said spring 19 is formed in adownwardly or backwardly bent shape, like a bow, and is attached to thelatch plate 8 along the undersurface thereof, with the reentrant edge 20fitted to the slit l3 and with the end of the forked portion 21contacting the left or front part of the baseplate I, so that the latchplate 8 is pressed upwardly to an extent, due to resilience of thespring, that a narrow gap or space substantially equal to a thickness ofthe tongue 26 is formed between the undersurfaces of flange portions 2,2 and a portion defined by the latch portion 10 and the upstandingportion 11 of said latch plate, and that the operative portion 12thereof is maintained in contact with the undersurface of the coverplate 14. Around a portion of the cover plate 14 in contact with theupper plane surface of operative portion 12 of the latch plate, anaperture 22 is provided corresponding to said operative portion.

Numeral 23 is a packing plate, which is firmly fixed around thesupporting projection 4 to preclude a loose engagement of the supportingprojection with the end portion of the guide aperture 9 defined by thelatch portion 10. Numeral 24 is a belt bar, which is engaged within thebaseplate and around which is wound a belt 25 inserted into the bucklethrough the aperture 5.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4 of thedrawings.

If the tongue 26 with an aperture 27 near a front free end thereof isinserted into the buckle through the gap 18 along the undersurfaces ofthe flange portions 2,2, the front free end of the tongue 26 passesinwardly beyond the latch portion 10 of the latch plate 8 and pressessaid latch plate downwardly against the pressure of the spring 19 on theundersurface of the latch portion, until the aperture 27 becomes engagedwith the latch portion 10 at its one end contiguous to the front freeend, thereby locking the tongue within the buckle, as shown in thedrawing.

In order to release the tongue from the latched position, the operativeportion 12 of the latch plate 8 is pushed downwardly as appearing inFIG. 4 by pressing on it by a finger inserted through the aperture 22,so that the entire latch plate 8 swings about the reentrant portion 3 asa fulcrum to push the latch portion 10 downwardly below the upper end ofthe supporting projection 4, whereby the aperture 27 of the tongue 26 isdisengaged from the latch portion 10 of the latch plate, thus effectingrelease of the tongue from the buckle, with extreme ease.

The safety belt buckle of the present invention has the advantage ofsimplicity in construction and assemblage, since a minimum number ofcomponents are used, including the baseplate l, the cover plate 14, thelatch plate 8 with the integrally formed operative portion, the spring19 and the belt bar. Other advantages of the safety belt buckle of thepresent invention are that the tongue is easily released from thelatched position simply by pressing the operative portion of the latchplate 8 through the aperture of the cover plate, and an unexpecteddisengagement or release of the tongue is precluded since engagement ofthe tongue with the latch plate is forced in its positive direction dueto force of inertia exerted thereupon on collision.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety belt buckle, comprising:

a baseplate having a hooklike reentrant portion at one end thereofdefining integral fulcrum means;

a latch plate having first and second generally parallel transverselyoffset portions extending respectively in opposite directions from atransversely extending intermediate connecting portion, one end of saidfirst portion of said latch plate extending into said reentrant portionand being pivotally engaged with said fulcrum means whereby said latchplate is swingable with respect to said baseplate, said first portionhaving latch means thereon;

a spring pivotally urging said latch plate about said fulcrum means awayfrom said baseplate;

a cover plate secured to said baseplate and overlying said latch plate,said second portion-of said latch plate normally contacting the innersurface of said cover plate under the urging of said spring whereby saidcover plate limits swingable movement of said latch plate away from saidbaseplate, said cover plate having an aperture therethrough in the partthereof contacting said second portion of said latch plate whereby ausers finger can be inserted through said aperture to swing said latchplate toward said baseplate, said aperture being laterally offset fromsaid latch means whereby said latch plate can be moved by a relativelylight force.

2. A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein one end of saidspring is provided with a curved hooklike portion thereon in which isreceived said one end of said latch plate, said spring being upwardlybowed between its ends and the other end of said spring slideablyengaging said baseplate, and an intermediate portion of said springslideably engaging said latch plate for resiliently urging same upwardlytoward said cover plate.

3. A safety belt buckle, comprising:

a baseplate having integral fulcrum means adjacent one end thereof;

a latch plate having first and second generally parallel transverselyoffsetportions extending respectively in opposite directions from atransversely extending intermediate connecting portion, said firstportion being pivotally engaged with said fulcrum means whereby saidlatch plate is swingable with respect to said baseplate, said firstportion having latch means thereon;

a spring pivotally urging said latch plate about said fulcrum means awayfrom said baseplate;

a cover plate secured to said baseplate and overlying said latch plate,said second portion of said latch plate normally contacting the innersurface of said cover plate.

under the urging of said spring whereby said cover plate limitsswingable movement of said latch plate away from said baseplate, saidcover plate having an aperture therethrough in the part thereofcontacting said second portion of said latch plate whereby a usersfinger can be inserted through said aperture to swing said latch platetoward said baseplate, said aperture being laterally offset from saidlatch means whereby said latch plate can be moved by a relatively lightforce;

said baseplate having any integral upstanding projection extendingtoward said cover plate and terminating in spaced relation thereto, saidspring having spaced-apart legs between which said projection extends,said first portion of said latch plate having an opening through whichsaid projection can extend;

and said spring comprises a bowed, forked, platelike a baseplate havingintegral fulcrum means adjacent one end thereof' a latch plate havingfirst and second generally parallel transversely offset portionsextending respectively in opposite directions from a transverselyextending intermediate connecting portion, said first portion beingpivotally engaged with said fulcrum means whereby said latch plate isswingable with respect to said baseplate, said first portion havinglatch means thereon;

spring pivotally urging said latch about said fulcrum means away fromsaid baseplate;

a cover plate secured to said baseplate and overlying said latch plate,said second portion of said latch plate normally contacting the innersurface of said cover plate under the urging of said spring whereby saidcover plate limits swingable movement of said latch plate away from saidbaseplate, said cover plate having an aperture therethrough in the partthereof contacting said second portion of said latch plate whereby ausers finger can be inserted through said aperture to swing said latchplate toward said baseplate, said aperture being laterally offset fromsaid latch means whereby said latch plate can be moved by a relativelylight force; said baseplate having an integral upstanding projectionextending toward said cover plate and terminating in spaced relationthereto, said spring having spaced-apart legs between which saidprojection extends, said first portion of said latch plate having anopening through which said projection can extend.

said latch means being defined by an upwardly raised section located atthe end of said opening in the first portion of said latch plate;

said baseplate being generally channel shaped in cross section andhaving inwardly extending flanges overlying and spaced from the centralweb thereof, said flanges having one end thereof upturned portions onwhich are hooked edge portions of said cover plate, said central webhaving at said one end of said baseplate reentrant portions definingsaid fulcrum means, said one end of said latch plate extending into saidreentrant portions, said one end of said latch plate having a notchtherein, one end of said spring being backwardly curved and beingreceived in said notch and hooked onto said latch plate, said springbeing upwardly bowed between its ends and the other end of said springslideably engaging said central web of said baseplate.

1. A safety belt buckle, comprising: a baseplate having a hooklikereentrant portion at one end thereof defining integral fulcrum means; alatch plate having first and second generally parallel transverselyoffset portions extending respectively in opposite directions from atransversely extending intermediate connecting portion, one end of saidfirst portion of said latch plate extending into said reentrant portionand being pivotally engaged with said fulcrum means whereby said latchplate is swingable with respect to said baseplate, said first portionhaving latch means thereon; a spring pivotally urging said latch plateabout said fulcrum means away from said baseplate; a cover plate securedto said baseplate and overlying said latch plate, said second portion ofsaid latch plate normally contacting the inner surface of said coverplate under the urging of said spring whereby said cover plate limitsswingable movement of said latch plate away from said baseplate, saidcover plate having an aperture therethrough in the part thereofcontacting said second portion of said latch plate whereby a user''sfinger can be inserted through said aperture to swing said latch platetoward said baseplate, said aperture being laterally offset from saidlatch means whereby said latch plate can be moved by a relatively lightforce.
 2. A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein one end ofsaid spring is provided with a curved hooklike portion thereon in whichis received said one end of said latch plate, said spring being upwardlybowed between its ends and the other end of said spring slideablyengaging said baseplate, and an intermediate portion of said springslideably engaging said latch plate for resiliently urging same upwardlytoward said cover plate.
 3. A safety belt buckle, comprising: abaseplate having integral fulcrum means adjacent one end thereof; alatch plate having first and second generally parallel transverselyoffset portions extending respectively in opposite directions from atransversely extending intermediate connecting portion, said firstportion being pivotally engaged with said fulcrum means whereby saidlatch plate is swingable with respect to said baseplate, said firstportion having latch means thereon; a spring pivotally urging said latchplate about said fulcrum means away from said baseplate; a cover platesecured to said baseplate and overlying said latch plate, said secondportion of said latch plate normally contacting the inner surface ofsaid cover plate under the urging of said spring whereby said coverplate limits swingable movement of said latch plate away from saidbaseplate, said cover plate having an aperture therethrough in the partthereof contacting said second portion of said latch plate whereby auser''s finger can be inserTed through said aperture to swing said latchplate toward said baseplate, said aperture being laterally offset fromsaid latch means whereby said latch plate can be moved by a relativelylight force; said baseplate having an integral upstanding projectionextending toward said cover plate and terminating in spaced relationthereto, said spring having spaced-apart legs between which saidprojection extends, said first portion of said latch plate having anopening through which said projection can extend; and said springcomprises a bowed, forked, platelike member having one end thereofpositioned adjacent said fulcrum means and disposed in engagement withone end of said latch plate, the other end of said spring being disposedin slideable bearing engagement with said baseplate, said spring furtherincluding intermediate portions spaced upwardly from said baseplate andmaintained in slideable bearing engagement with said latch plate fornormally, resiliently, pivotally urging same about said fulcrum meansupwardly toward said cover plate.
 4. A safety belt buckle, comprising: abaseplate having integral fulcrum means adjacent one end thereof; alatch plate having first and second generally parallel transverselyoffset portions extending respectively in opposite directions from atransversely extending intermediate connecting portion, said firstportion being pivotally engaged with said fulcrum means whereby saidlatch plate is swingable with respect to said baseplate, said firstportion having latch means thereon; a spring pivotally urging said latchabout said fulcrum means away from said baseplate; a cover plate securedto said baseplate and overlying said latch plate, said second portion ofsaid latch plate normally contacting the inner surface of said coverplate under the urging of said spring whereby said cover plate limitsswingable movement of said latch plate away from said baseplate, saidcover plate having an aperture therethrough in the part thereofcontacting said second portion of said latch plate whereby a user''sfinger can be inserted through said aperture to swing said latch platetoward said baseplate, said aperture being laterally offset from saidlatch means whereby said latch plate can be moved by a relatively lightforce; said baseplate having an integral upstanding projection extendingtoward said cover plate and terminating in spaced relation thereto, saidspring having spaced-apart legs between which said projection extends,said first portion of said latch plate having an opening through whichsaid projection can extend. said latch means being defined by anupwardly raised section located at the end of said opening in the firstportion of said latch plate; said baseplate being generally channelshaped in cross section and having inwardly extending flanges overlyingand spaced from the central web thereof, said flanges having one endthereof upturned portions on which are hooked edge portions of saidcover plate, said central web having at said one end of said baseplatereentrant portions defining said fulcrum means, said one end of saidlatch plate extending into said reentrant portions, said one end of saidlatch plate having a notch therein, one end of said spring beingbackwardly curved and being received in said notch and hooked onto saidlatch plate, said spring being upwardly bowed between its ends and theother end of said spring slideably engaging said central web of saidbaseplate.